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Is It Okay To Stay Paleo During Your Pregnancy?


Click HERE to Discover these 80 Keto-Friendly and Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes

Pregnancy is a time in a woman’s life where she has to be aware of what she puts into her body, not just for herself, but for her baby as well. So is it okay to stay Paleo during your pregnancy?

Once you become pregnant, your nutritional needs change, including caloric intake, micronutrient needs, and even sometimes macronutrient ratios. The lifestyle you stick to during pregnancy can alter how you feel during pregnancy, how much weight you gain, how morning sickness affects you, and can even set the stage for your baby’s health.

If you want to stay Paleo while pregnant, you’ve probably already come into some clashes with your doctor – unless you’re lucky. The USDA recommends a diet very different from what Paleo provides.

There are a lot of things to consider when it comes to staying Paleo while pregnant, including diet, exercise, and even what you put on your body when it comes to personal hygiene.

Nutritional Needs

You’ve probably heard the saying, “eating for two” during pregnancy. This isn’t exactly true, though, as a woman only needs about 300 calories extra starting in the second trimester.

In addition, a woman’s weight gain is really dependent upon her body composition before she got pregnant. A woman who is overweight to start with can get away with gaining a lot less than a woman who was underweight before becoming pregnant.

Eat Enough for Your Activity Level

Pregnancy is not the time to diet. Your actual intake requirements will change depending on your activity level. If you have a desk job, don’t work out, and are pretty much sedentary, then your caloric intake should be a lot less than someone who has a strenuous job or works out a lot.

Basically, if you figure out your Total Daily Energy Expenditure, you can eat at maintenance during the first trimester and add 300 calories per day during the second and third trimester.

Standard Nutritional Recommendations vs. Paleo

The USDA and its infamous Choose My Plate recommendations are pretty outrageous. They suggest looking for low-fat and fat-free options over butter and fatty meats, and even recommend “healthy” oils like soy, corn and canola! 

For a woman who is almost 18 weeks pregnant, the Choose My Plate recommends nine ounces of whole grains per day! The USDA recommends a low-fat diet with “healthy” canola oils. Paleo has a very different approach.

Paleo nutrition, of course, follows suggestions almost completely opposite from what conventional “wisdom” recommends. For example, whole milk (if you do dairy) is not only healthy, but ideal. Low-fat is most certainly not. Healthy oils are those like coconut and olive, not canola, soybean, corn, and other vegetable oils.

A typical Paleo breakfast for a pregnant woman might consist of two or three eggs scrambled in raw milk pastured butter, some cooked chicken, fish, or seafood, some fruit, and some wilted spinach or other greens. There’s absolutely no need for toast, a bagel, or other grain.

The Importance of a Balanced Diet during Pregnancy

Women who were following a low-carb diet pre-pregnancy should probably increase their carb intake during the first trimester. The placenta grows best when fed a good diet with moderate protein, moderate carbs, and high fat.

This can also help prevent low blood sugar, which is thought to contribute to morning sickness. When your pregnant body craves carbs, go for potatoes, berries and root vegetables.

If you find yourself with lots of carb cravings, listen to your body. Just make sure to pick healthy carbs, like those from sweet potatoes, white potatoes, beets, and other root vegetables. Fruit like berries are also a great choice.

Pick those that are local and in-season, and try to avoid those on the Dirty Dozen list unless you get them organic. Eat as much from the Clean 15 list as you want, of course.

Supplements

Most doctors will recommend a prenatal vitamin to pregnant women, and for good cause. Most women simply don’t eat a diet sufficient in all of the micronutrients needed to grow a healthy baby.

Even women who eat a strict Paleo diet probably could benefit from a good-quality prenatal vitamin, or various vitamins separately depending on what is lacking in their diet. Make sure if you do choose a multi, that you pay close attention to the amounts of each micronutrient.

Most have too much of some things (like Iodine or Folic Acid) for women who eat Paleo, and not enough Vitamin D or Vitamin K (if it even has Vitamin K in it at all). A great source of Vitamins D and A is fermented cod liver oil, particularly if you don’t eat organ meats.

Exercise

Exercise is another of those sensitive subjects where a lot of people will think that just because you’re pregnant, you shouldn’t work out. This couldn’t be farther from the truth, but of course, it all depends upon your activity level before pregnancy.

If you never did any cardio or lifted weights before you got pregnant, pregnancy is not the time to start. If you worked out regularly before, there’s no reason to stop just because you got pregnant (unless there’s a medical reason).You can certainly exercise while pregnant. Just make sure to take it easy!

General tips would be to make sure your core temperature stays below 102F, avoid high-risk or contact sports, and don’t allow your heart rate to stay above 140 for more than a few minutes at a time. Make sure you drink plenty of fluids before and during, and stop immediately if you feel lightheaded, nauseous, or dizzy.

Natural Hygiene Tips

Being Paleo isn’t just about the foods you eat; it should also address what you put on your body, like personal hygiene products. Natural hygiene items will help reduce your exposure to toxic substances, and thereby reduce your developing baby’s exposure as well. Read the ingredients on labels and try to avoid as many chemicals as possible.

You might even consider switching your household cleaning products to natural ones like vinegar and baking soda. You’ll not only be making the best choice for your baby, but you’ll save money, too.

Watch these 2 videos below:

EXERCISE DURING PREGNANCY | DO’S AND DON’TS!

Pregnancy Stretching Routine | Best Stretches to Relieve Pregnancy Symptoms!

Written by PaleoHacks Team

Author Bio:

PaleoHacks is an online paleo diet community that promotes a healthy lifestyles through primal methods. PaleoHacks started as a way for people share recipes, ideas and general opinions about the Paleolithic lifestyle. Now, whether it be the paleo diet, physical fitness or overall wellness, PaleoHacks has evolved into an online resource for healthy living. check us out on Facebook.

A lot of people have gotten results from the Keto diet, and enjoyed the foods that it has to offer. However, many of the people who are following this diet have a hard time finding the recipes that they need, especially ones that are quick and easy to complete.

Fortunately, Kelsey Ale, noticed this problem, and decided to do something about it. She’s found that making recipes in a slow cooker gives you meals which are not only delicious, but also take very little time to make. Mostly you just put a few simple ingredients in the slow cooker, and let it do the rest.

To find out more, click on – Keto Slow Cooker Cookbook

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Chlorella Benefits – 9 Reasons to Consume This Powerful Superfood


Click HERE to Discover these 80 Keto-Friendly and Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes

Chlorella – What It Is & Health Benefits

If you’re looking for a natural way to boost your energy levels, detox your body, and clear up your skin, chlorella could be the answer. In fact, chlorella can also help improve digestion, strengthen your immune system, and speed up post-workout recovery time (for any crossfitters out there).

Of course, there’s no shortage of nutritional supplements that make tall promises and fail to deliver results. But as a single-celled green algae, chlorella is actually more of a food than a supplement—and it contains potent nutrition that your body can use right away. Chlorella is chock full of essential nutrients and is one of the riches sources of vitamin A.

This superfood’s impressive nutrient profile includes all eight essential amino acids, which makes it a complete source of plant-based protein. It’s rich in essential nutrients, including fiber, omega 3 fatty acids, iron, magnesium, calcium, and beta-carotene (the antioxidant form of vitamin A).

A single serving of 100 grams is said to be one of the richest plant sources of vitamin A, which is needed to promote detoxification and maintain healthy skin, teeth, and vision.

But one of the most unique, beneficial nutrients is called Chlorella Growth Factor (CGF).

What is CGF?

CGF acts like a growth hormone because it allows chlorella to rapidly multiply by 4 every 20 hours. And when we absorb CGF, the growth factor helps regenerate our cells.

CGF contains the nucleic acids RNA and DNA, which provide your cells with the “blueprints” (i.e., instructions) they need to repair and regenerate. And as you may already know, the healthier your cells are, the more youthful you’ll feel.

In other words, you’ll have fewer fine lines and wrinkles, a sharper memory, and a rock-solid immune system. CGF (Chlorella Growth Factor) helps regenerate cells to keep you feeling younger.

Our body naturally produces nucleic acids, but our production declines with age—which is when signs of aging begin to appear. That’s why it’s so beneficial to get nucleic acids from dietary sources, such as chlorella.

CGF contains a special nutrient of its own (called a beta-glucan). A beta-glucan is a type of fiber that’s been shown to have antioxidant activity—by destroying cancer cells and reducing tumor growth. For this reason, beta-glucans are a powerful nutrient for enhancing and supporting immune-system functions.

The power of these nutrients are only scratching the surface of chlorella’s many health benefits. Here are 9 more reasons why this little known superfood is a superior source of nutrition—that you should include in your diet every day.

Chlorella Health Benefits

1. Chlorella Detoxifies Heavy Metals

Chlorella has the ability to bind and safely remove heavy metals from the body, which is a natural process known as chelation. We’re exposed to heavy metals (such as mercury and lead) via our environment (from pollution in the air we breathe and chemicals in the tap water we drink).

Heavy metals are toxic to our system. They can cause serious neurological damage when they accumulate in our tissues. A few common symptoms of heavy-metal toxicity include anxiety, memory loss, confusion, chronic fatigue, migraines, and insomnia. If you remember the Mad Hatter from Alice and Wonderland, he went “mad” from mercury poisoning.

As you can see, heavy metals have no place in our bodies. That’s why it’s important that we support our natural detoxification process with nutrients that can improve their elimination.

2. Chlorella Alkalizes Your Body

Chlorella is an alkaline food, which means it helps alkalize your blood once it’s been metabolized. To remain in optimal health, your blood should never be too acidic or alkaline. But many of the foods most people eat regularly are highly acidic, such as animal protein.

That’s why it’s important to increase the alkaline foods in your diet whenever possible: To help maintain a balanced blood pH. Chlorella helps balance acidity in the body, which is especially needed after a strenuous workout!

As an alkaline food, this plant protein can also help alkalize your body after an intense workout. During strenuous activity, your body naturally produces lactic acid, which helps you produce energy.

When it’s being produced regularly, lactic acid can build up in your muscle tissues and cause lactic acidosis. By including alkaline foods in your post-workout smoothie, you can help neutralize this acidity.

3. Chlorella Helps Skin Look Younger and Brighter

In order to have brighter, younger-looking skin, you must have healthy cells. As mentioned above, CGF provides the body with nucleic acids to speed up cellular repair and regeneration—which leads to healthier skin.

CGF can also help speed up the healing of wounds, and may be helpful for reducing the swelling and redness associated with acne breakouts.

4. Chlorella Promotes Weight Loss

In a recent study performed on individuals who were at risk for lifestyle factors (such obesity, diabetes, and heart disease), the regular intake of chlorella was shown to lower blood glucose, reduce cholesterol, and reduce body-fat percentages.

Now, that isn’t to say that this supplement is a miracle weight-loss pill; it isn’t.

However, the high concentration of nutrients found in chlorella can help support several of your body’s functions that result in weight loss, such as detoxification and blood-sugar balance.

5. Chlorella Speeds Up Muscle Recovery

Animal protein may be your go-to source of amino acids, which aid in tissue repair after a workout. But you may also want to consider taking chlorella to help speed up the recovery time of muscles.

As mentioned above, this plant protein is unlike most plant foods. It contains all 8 essential amino acids, which are needed for optimal recovery from exercise—including the branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) needed for building muscle.

For this reason, chlorella can be an ideal addition to your post-workout routine, which supports and accelerates your recovery time.

6. Chlorella Boosts Energy

Chlorella contains a nutrient called chlorophyll, which gives plant foods their dark green pigment. Chlorophyll is considered “plant blood” because it gives plants life by allowing them to absorb energy from light—a process known as photosynthesis. Chlorella contains chlorophyll, which will energize the body at a cellular level.

But chlorophyll has also been shown to energize the human body by promoting adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis, which is our primary energy molecule.

So it can help energize the body at a cellular level, which is essential for reducing chronic fatigue.

7. Chlorella Improves Digestion

Chlorella contains fiber and magnesium, two essential nutrients for healthy digestion. Fiber is needed to help eliminate “sweep” toxins from the intestinal tract; meanwhile, magnesium promotes muscle relaxation.

Since your GI tract is made entirely from muscle tissue, increasing the magnesium in your diet can help relieve constipation and other digestive issues.

8. Chlorella Supports Immune System

As mentioned above, the beta-glucans found in CGF have incredible health benefits—when it comes to defending your body against disease.

But chlorella offers extra nutritional support with vitamin C and zinc—two other nutrients that are required for immune health. If Mother Nature had created a multivitamin, you can bet it would be this.

9. Chlorella Internally Deodorizes

Since chlorella promotes natural body detoxification, it can help clear toxins and bacteria from your digestive system that promote body odor. Chlorophyll is also said to act as a natural internal deodorant, which eliminates bad breath by cleansing the colon of odor-causing bacteria.

Not All Chlorella is Created Equal

Chlorella contains a tough outer shell (known as the cell wall), which protects all of its life-giving nutrients. Unfortunately, this cell wall is impossible for the body to break down, so it must be cracked or broken for the human body to use any of its nutrients.

When looking for a chlorella supplement, always be sure the nutrition label states that it is “cracked cell wall” or “broken cell wall.” A high-quality supplement should only be processed by using pressure to extract the nutrients—not chemicals or high temperatures that can destroy its nutrients.

Chlorella grows in Taiwan, China, and Japan, but most of its supplements are sourced from freshwater pools in Japan.

Since radioactive chemicals are found in Japan’s water supply, it’s important to ensure that your supplement undergoes routine testing for toxicity and heavy-metal contamination. Although chlorella can help detoxify heavy metals from your body, it’s not ideal to consume a supplement that’s already laden with chemicals.

How to Add Chlorella to Your Diet?

Chlorella can be added to your diet in powdered form, capsule, or tablet form. While you may initially find algae to have a strong, potent flavor, you can still make it taste amazing (and mask the flavor) by blending it in a smoothie.

My personal favorite combination adds coconut water, avocado, pineapple, banana, spinach, parsley, and romaine lettuce.

Watch these 2 videos –

What is Chlorella Anyway? | Fresh P

What is CHLORELLA + How to Use It | Thrive Market

Written by Brandi Black

Author Bio:

Brandi Black is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist and the creator of Feel Best Naked, a health blog for women who want to clear up their skin, lose the muffin top and make the bloat disappear. After years of experiencing (and then healing) her own unbalanced hormones, she’s now obsessed with helping other women feel spectacular in their own skin with natural remedies for hormone balance.

A lot of people have gotten results from the Keto diet, and enjoyed the foods that it has to offer. However, many of the people who are following this diet have a hard time finding the recipes that they need, especially ones that are quick and easy to complete.

Fortunately, Kelsey Ale, noticed this problem, and decided to do something about it. She’s found that making recipes in a slow cooker gives you meals which are not only delicious, but also take very little time to make. Mostly you just put a few simple ingredients in the slow cooker, and let it do the rest.

To find out more, click on – Keto Slow Cooker Cookbook

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10 Super Practical Tasks You Can Do with Lemons


Click HERE to Discover these 80 Keto-Friendly and Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes

When you have a bad day, the saying often goes, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” Contrary to this negative connotation, lemons do actually bestow many positive uses.

Lemons are identified by their pungent, sour taste and smell. This fruit is not just for seasoning food or flavoring drinks, or as a type of air freshener or dish soap fragrance. In fact, lemons have quite a few practical, everyday uses that may add some vigor to your Paleo lifestyle.

Main components found in lemons include citric acid, malic acid and vitamin C. Citric acid and malic acid are the most abundant acids found in lemons, although there are many other acids present, and they are responsible for giving lemons their sour taste.

One of the great things about lemons is that regardless of the time of year, you’ll typically be able to find fresh lemons available. They also have a fairly long shelf life.

Lemons can be kept at room temperature, out of the sunlight for about a week; and in the refrigerator for up to a month. When selecting your lemons, make sure to look for those with thinner peels, because thicker peeled lemons tend to be less juicy.

10 Ways to Use Lemons

Below are 10 ways lemons can give back to your life:

1. Deodorize garbage disposal

The next time you have lemon peels to dispose of, try throwing them down your garbage disposal instead of in the trash. In just seconds, your smelly garbage disposal will turn into citrus bliss. Make sure you cut the peels small enough to avoid any technical difficulties. Adding some baking soda will also help to curb any odors.

2. Sanitize cutting board

Cutting boards are unfortunately not perfect, especially if they are made of wood, and cleaning them can be tough since they are not recommended to go into the dishwasher.

Every month or so (maybe even sooner depending on how much use you are getting out of your cutting board) it’s a good idea to give your cutting board a bath. 

To do this, cut a lemon in half and use this to give your cutting board a scrub down. It’s also helpful to put some salt on the board before you start in with the lemon action. Rinse with hot water when you’re done and you are good to go with a sanitized and food residue-free cutting board.

3. Cleans stainless steel

It may take some extra elbow grease compared to chemical cleaners, but using lemon juice is safer and cheaper. Lemons are highly acidic and have a low pH value, which will help get rid of hard water stains on stainless steel (ironic, right?).

Squeeze 2-4 lemons into hot water. Take a cloth and soak it into the lemon water mixture, and then scrub your stainless steel appliance until it shines through like new. Rinse with water when you are finished.

4. Cleans soap scum and water stains on shower doors

Breaking down soap scum is another cool thing citric acid can do. Lemon juice and lemon oil are great for cleaning your shower. Use a brush or a cloth to coat the areas you would like to clean, let it sit for a while, scrub out the dirt, and rinse clean with hot water.

5. Removes odors from other foods on your hands

Getting your hands dirty is all part of being in the kitchen. After you cut some garlic or onion, or handle some shrimp or tuna, your hands may smell like they need a serious cleaning and water doesn’t always cut it on its own. It doesn’t take much lemon juice to get rid of the strong odor; just rub a small amount onto your smelly hands.

To reduce any harshness to the skin, you can dilute some lemon juice with water before applying it. Definitely rinse your hands with water after this one.

Be aware if you have dry skin that applying lemon juice may not help the situation, so make sure to moisturize your skin when using this Paleo remedy.

6. Lighten sun spots, for skin toning

Staying out in the sun may leave you sunburned, but sometimes it can just leave behind sunspots. Lemons are high in vitamin C and citrus flavonoids, which both help to reduce the melanin production in your skin. Lemon juice alone is a little harsh on the skin, although you can rub a lemon slice directly onto your sun spots.

Mix 1-2 teaspoons of honey (to add moisture and to take away some of the bite) to 1-2 slices of lemon juice, and apply it to your sunspots for at least 20 minutes to get a lighter skin tone. Never apply immediately before or after sun exposure. Lemons also exfoliate dead skin, which can help clear out your sunspots.

7. Bug bite itch relief

The First Century Greek physician Dioscorides was known to prescribe lemon balm for scorpion or animal bites. The juicy, citrusy, pulpy fruit has antibacterial properties which can bring relief to your pesky mosquito bites as well as other bug bites.

Apply some lemon juice to the itchy areas (warning: be careful, as it may sting!) or try rubbing the peel directly onto the bite. Beware that using too much may irritate your skin.

8. Soothe a sore throat

Sore throats can be a pain in the neck (literally), especially if you have to talk to people on a daily basis. Instead of purchasing lozenges and over-the-counter syrups right off the bat, try using the juice from half of a lemon and a small amount of water, and gargle it over a sink. The citric acid in the lemon water will help to break down the mucus causing the soreness, as well as soothe the pain and inflammation.

9. Get rid of dandruff

If dandruff is getting in the way of your good looks, try using lemon juice to help fight this fashion don’t. Before you get in the shower, use the juice from a few slices of lemon and massage it into your scalp.

Citric acid attacks dandruff from the roots of your hair follicles. Mixing coconut oil with lemon juice and massaging it into the scalp may help to moisturize your scalp as well as remove your dandruff.

10. Boosts immune system, aids digestion, and reduces inflammation

Not only did Dioscorides use lemons for bug bites, he also recommended lemons to the delicate and weak as a digestive aid, to calm people’s nerves and to counter depression. Drinking a glass of lemon water with a meal, or eating preserved lemons can help to reduce inflammation and swelling in your joints.

Vitamin C is also a key element in lemons that will help combat a cold or the flu. They also contain potassium, which stimulates brain and nervous system functions to help control your blood pressure.

Watch this video – 34 Lemon Ideas Everyone Should Know

Written by Liz Lang

Author Bio:

Liz Lang is a Clinical Research Coordinator with the Southern California Institute for Research and Education in the field of Gastroenterology. Liz graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a degree in Public Health Sciences. She has an insatiable thirst to learn how the human body works in order to keep people healthy. When Liz isn’t in the clinic, she enjoys exploring nature, yoga, and trying new things (especially food!).

A lot of people have gotten results from the Keto diet, and enjoyed the foods that it has to offer. However, many of the people who are following this diet have a hard time finding the recipes that they need, especially ones that are quick and easy to complete.

Fortunately, Kelsey Ale, noticed this problem, and decided to do something about it. She’s found that making recipes in a slow cooker gives you meals which are not only delicious, but also take very little time to make. Mostly you just put a few simple ingredients in the slow cooker, and let it do the rest.

To find out more, click on – Keto Slow Cooker Cookbook

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20 Cancer-Fighting Foods that You Should Eat Often


Click HERE to Discover these 80 Keto-Friendly and Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes

When it comes to fighting cancer, preventative treatment is better than reactive. Here are 20 cancer-fighting foods that will help protect you!

One of the best measures of defense is our lifestyle, as outlined in the scientific research. Everything you do, whether it’s not sleeping enough, exercising regularly, smoking, drinking alcohol, eating poorly – constitutes your lifestyle. Unfortunately, cancer also is impacted by our genetic makeup – which we are born with.

What we do have control over, however, is epigenetics. Epigenetics can be over-simplified to mean “how your environment and choices impact your genes”. This can be otherwise stated as – you guessed it – lifestyle! There are foods – all of which can be found in a Paleo Diet – that can help prevent and also help to cope with cancer.

Unsurprisingly, there are lots of vegetables on the cancer-fighting foods list!

So without further adieu, here are the top 20 cancer-fighting foods!

1. Kale

Kale is pretty much the best vegetable to be eating on a regular basis. Since it has gone mainstream, you are also no longer the (only) health nut in the break room with raw green stuff on your plate – added bonus. The nutrients in cruciferous vegetables offer somewhat rare protection against DNA damage – which can often result in cancer.

Why is kale one of the best cancer-fighting foods? Well, one reason is that kale offers the most polyphenol content of any cruciferous vegetable. Kale also contains sulforaphane, which is a bioactive compound shown to be very helpful for preventing cancer. Eat up!

2. Spinach

Popeye was no fool – spinach is a nutritional powerhouse. In particular, spinach seems to be beneficial for prostate cancer.

Though spinach is helpful for preventing cancer for many reasons, its effect against prostate cancer is likely due to epoxyxanthophylls – a group of carotenoids found within this green veggie. Popeye was no fool – spinach is a nutritional powerhouse.

The anti-cancer effect of spinach glycoglycerolipids is due to angiogenesis inhibition. In more detail, this is based on the selective inhibition of DNA polymerase activity.

For practical uses, all you need to remember is that the more spinach you have, the better your odds of fighting cancer.

3. Cauliflower

Cauliflower is a little bit forgotten when it comes to scientific research, but you will find that there are quite a few studies linking cauliflower to potentially lower rates of cancer. Cauliflower not only has antioxidants, but also has sulfur-containing nutrients which help fight against cancer.

Cauliflower even contains additional phytonutrients which may be helpful in activating detoxification enzymes and regulating how they function within the body.

These are called glucosinolates, and cauliflower contains gluconasturtiin, glucobrassicin, and glucoraphanin. Dig in!

4. Broccoli

Broccoli simply has some of the best bioactive compounds to help fight against cancer. Sulforaphane is the main element found within this green veggie, which helps to deter cancer. 

Some studies have even shown that broccoli inhibits breast cancer stem cells. This should give you plenty of reasons to load up on this stalky green giant!

5. Cabbage

Cabbage has a particular glucosinolate which has received extra notice in cancer research, named sinigrin. And if you are looking to get the most bang for your buck with cabbage – eat it raw, as studies show it has better health results in this form.

Steaming it is also a good option. Just make sure to include cabbage in your weekly nutritional rotation!

6. Carrots

These orange veggies pack quite a few cancer-fighting elements into one light package. Most important though, is the anti-cancer compound falcarinol. Why is this so important? 

Some studies show that tumors in rats were reduced by a third, upon ingestion of falcarinol. Definitely food for thought!

7. Sweet Potatoes

Similar to carrots in many regards, sweet potatoes also pack a large amount of nutrition into a small amount of calories. 

Experts have even found that there are significant antiproliferative and antimetastatic effects on human cancer cells when consuming sweet potatoes.

8. Seaweed

Somewhat forgotten by almost everyone, seaweed actually has many anti-carcinogenic properties. An important element found here is fucoidan, a complex polysaccharide, which has possible abilities to make cancer cells self-destruct.

However, more research is required before anything more definitive can be stated on this subject. One thing is for sure – you should munch on these cancer-fighting foods from time to time to reap the health rewards!

9. Mushrooms

The anti-cancer compounds found in mushrooms have critical roles. Interestingly, there is even a widespread movement in the medical community to potentially have anti-cancer drugs made from medicinal mushrooms. Top your green salad off with these little cancer-fighting foods, and score some extra nutrition!

10. Raspberries

Raspberries contain ellagic acid – more in fact, than almost every other berry. Get black raspberries to get the most bang for your buck. And why exactly is ellagic acid important? Very simply, it helps to inhibit tumors.

11. Papayas

Papayas are very often forgotten about – but they shouldn’t be. While the verdict is still out, many substances found in papayas may have some anti-cancer effects. Slight warning – papayas are still high in sugar, so don’t make this fruit an everyday occurrence in your diet.

12. Lemons

It seems like lemons have been truly forgotten about, except maybe in your water at a restaurant! The case here is, again, not the lemons, but the compounds found within them. In this case, the phytochemical limonene has been used in clinical trials and is showing some promising anti-cancer activity.

13. Rosemary

Rosemary is a great way to add some extra punch to some of your favorite Paleo foods. When it comes to cancer prevention, there is particular potential in rosemary extract, carnosol, carnosic acid, ursolic acid, and rosmarinic acid. What does this mean for you? Start adding this herb to some of your favorite dishes, and take one more step towards better health.

14. Garlic

Garlic is well-known as being extremely healthful, but there are some interesting notes that affect its anti-cancer properties. Did you know, for example, that letting garlic sit after you’ve chopped it can help to increase the benefits? 

Various population-based studies have shown that garlic may help with cancer. You can apologize to your significant other in advance for the bad breath, but you are helping your own health in the process!

15. Brazil Nuts

Brazil nuts get a lot of their cancer-fighting punch from selenium – a trace mineral that is found in extremely large quantities in this particular nut. You do not need many Brazil nuts to reap the benefits – so do not overindulge, as they are calorically dense.

16. Turmeric

Turmeric helps to inhibit cancer cell growth – pretty important! Adding just a little bit to your food on a daily basis is an excellent way to start reaping the health benefits. Curcumin is the most well-studied phytochemical present in turmeric.

17. Green Tea

Green tea is helpful against cancer, largely due to its most abundant catechin, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG).

In fact, some studies correlate green tea consumption with decreased cancer risk.

Since green tea has a variety of other health benefits, there is no reason not to include this in your diet!

18. Tomatoes

Some interesting studies have shown that tomatoes and broccoli, when eaten together, are a virtual powerhouse against cancer. The lycopene in tomatoes is what is doing the work, while concurrently, the sulforaphane in broccoli is doing the job. Eat both, to increase your odds against disease!

19. Oranges

Citrus fruits in general are very beneficial for fighting against cancer, but oranges are special. Quite simply, oranges pack a near-complete package of every anticancer inhibitor known, into one fruit. And, strangely, one of the most potent compounds in oranges is found within the peel.

20. Blueberries

Blueberries have many beneficial compounds for helping to fight against cancer. But perhaps most importantly, they have anthocyanin antioxidants – which help to give foods blue, purple and red colors. The many anthocyanin compounds in blueberries include: malvidins, delphinidins, pelargonidins, cyanidins, and peonidins.

While some foods show small differences in nutritional profiles when comparing organic vs. non-organic items – this is not the case with blueberries. Always go with organic berries whenever possible.

Besides the anthocyanin antioxidants, blueberries also contain: caffeic acids, ferulic acids, coumaric acids, hydroxybenzoic acids, gallic acids, procatchuic acids, kaempferol, quercetin, myricetin and other phytonutrients. Eat up!

Watch this video – Starving cancer away | Sophia Lunt | TEDxMSU

The Bottom Line

Eating a solid mix of the best vegetables and most nutrient-dense fruits, while also sprinkling in some beneficial herbs and spices, is a sure-fire way to help decrease your risk of cancer. Once you have cancer, there is no clear way – nutritionally – to make it better. However, some studies have shown small success with very low-sugar, high-vegetable diets.

Remember, it is better to start making good choices today, rather than waiting until it may be too late. Preventative medicine is the best kind of medicine – and that includes eating a nutrient-rich, vegetable-filled, Paleo diet full of cancer-fighting foods.

Written by Casey Thaler

Author Bio:

Casey Thaler, B.A., NASM-CPT, FNS is an NASM® certified personal trainer and NASM® certified fitness nutrition specialist. He writes for Paleo Magazine®, The Paleo Diet® and Greatist®. He is also an advisor for Kettle and Fire and runs his own nutrition and fitness consulting company, Eat Clean, Train Clean®.

A lot of people have gotten results from the Keto diet, and enjoyed the foods that it has to offer. However, many of the people who are following this diet have a hard time finding the recipes that they need, especially ones that are quick and easy to complete.

Fortunately, Kelsey Ale, noticed this problem, and decided to do something about it. She’s found that making recipes in a slow cooker gives you meals which are not only delicious, but also take very little time to make. Mostly you just put a few simple ingredients in the slow cooker, and let it do the rest.

To find out more, click on – Keto Slow Cooker Cookbook

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19 Health Benefits of This 2-Ingredient Morning Tonic


Click HERE to Discover these 80 Keto-Friendly and Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes

Many of us have morning routines that are wonderful health practices – a morning meditation, a few yoga poses, a brisk walk around the neighborhood, or a delicious fruit-infused smoothie. Daily routines are vital to health and happiness, and this is especially true at the start of the day.

How about a quick and simple glass of warm lemon water with Himalayan salt? This simple drink can boost your morning health and wellness regimen – and it’s so easy to make. There are a number of professional athletes and Olympians who start their morning with lemon and salt water, which may say something about its effectiveness.

A 10-ounce glass of warm lemon water with Himalayan salt in the morning can increase your immune function, decrease uric acid to fight inflammation, improve digestion, and balance your body.

These benefits can be attributed to the vitamin C content of the lemon juice as well as the essential minerals contained in Himalayan salt. This simple morning drink promotes vitality, health, and overall wellness, and may even improve your sex drive!

Let’s take a closer look at 19 of the balancing benefits of water, lemon, and salt, all in one cup.

Lemons Are Excellent for Fighting Inflammation

Lemons can help dissolve the uric acid in your joints, and also have been found to help build and repair tendons, ligaments, and bone. This anti-inflammatory property may be especially beneficial for people with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, according to an American College of Physicians study on osteoarthritis, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine (2000).

Aids in Proper Food and Water Absorption

A daily glass of lemon water with Himalayan salt may provide a better overall mineral balance, which promotes proper food and water absorption in your body, allowing essential nutrients to get where they need to be.

Balances your Body’s Acidity (pH)

The alkalizing effects of lemon and natural salt are highly useful for managing your body’s delicate pH balance, which is crucial for optimal functioning of the body’s systems.

Boosts Immune Function

One lemon serves up 139 percent of your daily value (DV) for vitamin C. Squeezing one lemon into your morning is a natural alternative to that vitamin C supplement you may be taking.

It’s a Detox for Your Cells

The all-natural Himalayan salt mixed with lemon juice and water helps to pull toxins from your cells, reducing cellular toxicity. This may reduce your risk for various chronic diseases, as well as make you feel generally awesome!

Reduces Problematic Cellulite

Natural salts like Himalayan salt have been used for centuries for skin care. Interestingly, most spa treatments for cellulitis contain some form of salt and/or citrus blend. A few daily gulps of lemon and salt water in the morning may firm up a few of those unsightly areas.

Clears up Skin and Adds a Fresh Glow

Using natural salt for skin problems, such as psoriasis and eczema, dates back to ancient Roman times. Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius’ doctor, Galen from Pergamum, used sea salt for skin diseases, according to Science Tribune (1999).

Useful for Allergy Season

It has been suggested that the combination of lemon and salt, specifically mixed into warm water, acts as a natural antihistamine for allergies. It may be the perfect alternative to those pink pills that leave you feeling drowsy.

Paves the Way for Better Sleep

The natural hormone-balancing properties of lemon and Himalayan salt can be more than useful when it comes to bedtime. Getting the proper amount of sleep is essential for physical health, mental health, productivity, and much more. This hormone-balancing beverage can make an effective nightcap.

Helps Control Blood Sugar

The fiber content of lemons helps to balance blood glucose levels, which is useful for type 2 diabetes patients and prediabetics alike, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (2000).

Lemons May Help Detoxify Your Liver

Vitamin C is essential for producing glutathione, which plays a foundational role in detoxifying the liver. It also has antiseptic properties that are useful for liver function, as well.

Freshens Breath!

Lemon and Himalayan salt may not be the first things that come to mind when you think of fresh breath. However, the lemon and salt in this simple morning drink help kill the bad breath bacteria that build up while you’re sleeping.

May Help You Chill Out

When you get stressed out, do not be so quick to reach for those prescription pills. You may be able to chill out and return to that state of Zen by boosting your vitamin C levels first thing in the morning.

Useful for Reducing Blood Pressure

Lemons are not all about vitamin C and fiber. They also boast potassium, which is vital for flushing excessive sodium from the body.

Boost Your Libido!

The vitamin C content and hormone-balancing properties of this morning beverage can help lift your mood. This might be all it takes to boost your libido, without the need for that little blue pill.

Gets You Hydrated Right Out of the Gate

Many people forget how important hydration is, especially after a seven or eight-hour sleep period with no water. Start your morning off right and get hydrated. The water, salt and zesty lemon will get your day off to the perfect start.

An Antioxidant Powerhouse Vital for, Well, Everything!

Lemon offers up a wealth of vitamins and minerals, while Himalayan salt boosts your mineral and trace mineral levels even more. The antioxidant and detoxifying properties of lemon saltwater pack a powerful, free radical knockout punch.

May Improve Your Heart Health

Lemons and real salt are both exceptional for increasing heart health on their own. However, when you combine the two into one vibrant morning drink, you get even more vital heart-thumping health benefits.

Natural salt supports electrochemical reactions in the body, while negative ions assist in healthy heart rhythm. Lemons are rich in vitamin C, which is, “associated with lower endothelial dysfunction in men with no history of cardiovascular disease or diabetes,” according to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2006).

Promotes Digestive Health

A glass of warm lemon water with Himalayan salt before breakfast, or any meal, helps signal your liver to produce the essential bile needed to clean out harmful gut bacteria. The fiber content and natural salt will also promote digestion.

Are you ready to commit to this simple and health-promoting morning drink? I have been drinking warm lemon water with a little bit of Himalayan salt every morning for months, and I absolutely love it. My energy levels are up, and I feel as cool as a cucumber throughout the day.

Want to join me? Combine 10 ounces of filtered water with one whole lemon, squeezed, and half a teaspoon of Himalayan salt.

Watch this video – 21 reasons to drink lemon water with himalayan sea salt

Written by The Alternative Daily

Author Bio:

The Alternative Daily seeks to inform, encourage and empower readers to make healthy choices that will positively impact individuals, families and our planet.

A lot of people have gotten results from the Keto diet, and enjoyed the foods that it has to offer. However, many of the people who are following this diet have a hard time finding the recipes that they need, especially ones that are quick and easy to complete.

Fortunately, Kelsey Ale, noticed this problem, and decided to do something about it. She’s found that making recipes in a slow cooker gives you meals which are not only delicious, but also take very little time to make. Mostly you just put a few simple ingredients in the slow cooker, and let it do the rest.

To find out more, click on – Keto Slow Cooker Cookbook

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How to Avoid the 7 Common Toxins Hurting Your Thyroid?


Click HERE to Discover these 80 Keto-Friendly and Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes

7 Endocrine Disruptors Lurking in Your Kitchen & How to Avoid Them

What if I told you that some of the most common endocrine disruptors are sitting right in your pantry or under your kitchen sink?

As scary as that sounds, these disruptors are within arm’s reach every single day, and some of us may even consume foods that throw our hormone balance out of whack without even knowing it.

As a doctor who specializes in thyroid health, I spend a lot of time working with patients to uncover the hidden toxins in their lives. Many of these toxins happen to come from cleaning and personal care products, but there are also a ton of toxins found in the Standard American Diet that can be damaging to the thyroid, and other hormones as well.

I want to share what these toxins are and some ways that you can avoid them; as well as healthy swaps so that you can help restore your hormone balance one step at a time!

Let’s start by talking about what endocrine disruptors actually are.

What are Endocrine Disruptors?

Endocrine disruptors are toxins that can lead to issues with the reproductive, neurological, and immune systems. It is also important to know that endocrine disruptors may be an even larger issue during both the prenatal and postnatal period when organ development is occurring.

There are so many endocrine disruptors seen today that it is very important to be aware of what they are so that you can avoid as many of them as possible.

How Endocrine Disruptors Hurt the Thyroid

So, how do endocrine disruptors disrupt the thyroid? The endocrine system encompasses all of the glands of the body, as well as the hormones that are produced by each one, and that includes the thyroid.

Endocrine disruptors can actually target specific thyroid hormones and behave like thyroid hormones in the body, disrupting normal hormone synthesis and causing a host of problems.

Whether you are dealing with a thyroid condition or not, being exposed to products that interfere with the hormone balance in the body is a recipe for disaster.

Now that you know what endocrine disruptors are and why they cause such an issue with thyroid health and hormone balance, here are the specific toxins you’ll find hiding right in your kitchen.

Endocrine Disruptors Hiding Under Your Kitchen Sink

Fragrance

If you were to look under your kitchen sink right now and read the back of your cleaning product labels, chances are some type of artificial fragrance would be listed. Fragrances are also found in candles, air fresheners, aerosol sprays, and personal care products like lotions and body washes.

The issue with synthetic fragrances is that the vast majority of them are made from petrochemicals which are linked to allergies, nervous-system disorders, and even cancer.

The scariest part is that companies are allowed to just use the word “fragrance” on the label without listing where it came from and what toxins it contains. Not knowing the actual ingredients can be extremely dangerous as so many of these toxic chemicals can be devastating to our endocrine system and overall health.

Phthalates are one of the toxic ingredients often found in synthetic fragrance and have been linked to reproductive disruption.

How to Avoid Synthetic Fragrances

So, how do you avoid coming in contact with synthetic fragrance? First, stop buying toxic household cleaners and make your own natural cleaning products with ingredients like distilled vinegar, baking soda, and essential oils.

You will also want to avoid anything that comes in an aerosol can and most commercial detergents. Make your own products whenever possible and when purchasing them, be sure that the label states that is it fragrance-free and phthalate-free!

PFCs

PFCs are perfluorinated chemicals and are commonly used in non-stick cookware. These toxic compounds are used in products to help make them resistant to things like water, stains, and grease.

Humans are most likely exposed to PFCs by using products that contain perfluorinated chemicals or even consuming PFC contaminated water or food.

Unfortunately, these chemicals are so toxic that they wound up on Environmental Working Group’s Dirty Dozen Endocrine Disruptor List. Aside from causing thyroid disease, PFCs have been linked to reproductive issues related to hormone levels and sperm quality.

PFCs are also known to break down very slowly in the environment, which is a big issue when it comes to exposure.

How to Avoid PFCs

Swap your non-stick cookware for stainless steel or cast-iron pans instead. You’ll also want to avoid water-resistant products that you spray on things like furniture.

BPA

You are probably familiar with BPA. This toxin is commonly found in plastic water bottles, plastic food storage containers and the linings of canned products. The problem with BPA is that it has the ability to act like estrogen in the body, which has been linked to certain cancers and even obesity.

How to Avoid BPA

To avoid BPA, avoid plastic and canned products whenever possible. Opt for glass water bottles and glass food containers instead of plastic, and if you must buy ziplock bags or canned products, look for labels that say BPA-free.

Endocrine Disruptors Hiding in Your Food

Phytoestrogens

Phytoestrogens can be tricky when it comes to thyroid health. Phytoestrogens are naturally occurring in plants and can be found in foods like soy products, flax seeds, legumes, oats, and sesame seeds.

The problem with phytoestrogens is that they act like hormones in the body since their chemical structure is similar to estrogen, which can lead to fertility issues.

How to Avoid Phytoestrogens

To avoid phytoestrogens, I recommend avoiding all soy-based products. Some phytoestrogens are also found in legumes, so you may want to avoid legumes as well.

Pesticides

Pesticides are commonly sprayed on produce and can cause endocrine disruption that is particularly harmful to thyroid health. In fact, a study found a link between certain pesticides, like fungicides and organochlorines, and hypothyroidism in women.

How to Avoid Pesticides

To avoid pesticides, I recommend choosing all organic produce whenever possible.

If you cannot purchase everything organic, check the Clean 15 and Dirty Dozen List to see which foods are most prone to being heavily sprayed with pesticides, and which you may be able to get away with purchasing conventional produce.

Dioxin

Dioxins are toxic carcinogens found in cigarette smoke and bleached products. They accumulate in the fatty tissue of animals, and can even make their way into our drinking water from chemical factory runoff.

Dioxins cause issues with both female and male sex hormones and can impact the immune system.

How to Avoid Dioxin

It is difficult to avoid dioxin completely since the food supply in the US is very contaminated with this endocrine disruptor. However, since it is commonly found in dairy products, meat, and fish, you can eliminate dairy from your diet, and stick to high-quality animal products like grass-fed and pasture-raised meat.

Mercury

Heavy metal toxicity happens to be one of the leading cause of Hashimoto’s and something that I see in my practice all the time. It’s especially dangerous to pregnant women as it can interfere with hormone signaling and fetal brain development.

Most people are exposed to mercury through their intake of fish or if they have amalgam fillings, however, it is also found naturally in the environment.

How to Avoid Mercury

To avoid mercury, you will also want to avoid any high-mercury fish such as ahi tuna (yellowfin tuna), swordfish, and shark. Choose wild-caught salmon and trout to avoid additional toxin exposure. I also recommend seeing a dentist that specializes in safe removal of mercury fillings.

Watch this video – Cure Thyroid Problem Permanently in 4 Steps (100% Guaranteed)

The Bottom Line

While endocrine disruptors can be found in so many things that we are exposed to today, being aware of where they are and what we can do about it, can significantly reduce our exposure.

To help restore thyroid balance, and support endocrine health, try swapping out some of the toxic endocrine disruptors in your day-to-day life, and choose healthier and non-toxic options. You’ll be amazed at how a few small steps towards restoring your hormone balance can make lasting change for your thyroid and overall health.

Written Dr. Becky Campbell

Author Bio:

Dr. Becky Campbell is a board-certified doctor of natural medicine who was initially introduced to functional medicine as a patient. She struggled with many of the issues her patients struggle with today, and she has
made it her mission to help patients all around the world with her virtual practice.

Dr. Becky Campbell is the founder of DrBeckyCampbell.com
and author of The 30-Day Thyroid Reset Plan. She specializes in Hashimoto’s disease and hopes to help others regain their life as functional medicine helped her regain hers.

A lot of people have gotten results from the Keto diet, and enjoyed the foods that it has to offer. However, many of the people who are following this diet have a hard time finding the recipes that they need, especially ones that are quick and easy to complete.

Fortunately, Kelsey Ale, noticed this problem, and decided to do something about it. She’s found that making recipes in a slow cooker gives you meals which are not only delicious, but also take very little time to make. Mostly you just put a few simple ingredients in the slow cooker, and let it do the rest.To find out more, click on – Keto Slow Cooker Cookbook

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22 Great Tips to Eating Paleo on a Budget


Click HERE to Discover these 80 Keto-Friendly and Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes

If you’ve recently started down the path of a Paleo lifestyle, you probably almost had a heart attack at your first grocery receipt.

It can certainly be quite a challenge to buy Paleo groceries and stay within budget. Organic produce and quality almond butter doesn’t come cheap! You might even find yourself wondering if you can afford to eat Paleo (Hint: you can.)

The good news is that the longer you spend eating Paleo, the more likely it is that your grocery bill will level out. You’ll start buying a lot of the same things, fewer novelty items, and you’ll always have staple foods in your pantry or fridge. 

Take heart and know that eventually you’ll be able to go to the grocery store or farmers’ market and know exactly what you need to buy — and it won’t set you back too much.

Until you’re ready to start shopping intuitively, it’ll help if you sit down to prioritize your grocery budget and create a master grocery list to help you stick to your budget.

Once at the store, there are lots of little tricks that’ll save you money, like buying in bulk, or getting simple ingredients to make your own decadent creations, like ice cream or almond butter.

Also stick to the “clean 15” list for organic produce, and buy non-organic for everything else. Read on for more budget friendly, money-saving tricks of the trade!

Prioritize Your Grocery Allowance

The very first thing you need to do is to prioritize and re-assess your grocery allowance. How much are you spending right now on food? How much are you spending on unnecessary luxury items like Starbucks coffee three times a day?

Then think about your budget outside of groceries. What else do you spend your money on? Can you give up some of those luxury items in order to add more money to your food budget?

Now take a look at what you have left over for food. You may not be able to buy all pastured, grass-fed meats or all organic produce, but think about what’s important to you and shop accordingly.

Create a Master Grocery List

Everyone’s list will be different according to your likes/dislikes, budget, and access to certain foods, but generally, you’ll have a Meat section, Vegetable/Fruit section, Spices and Seasonings section, Nuts section, a Dried/Frozen/Canned section, and possibly a Dairy section.

It may take a few weeks or so to get your master list hammered out, but once you have it, you’ll find it invaluable. You can write down the best prices and where you found them for each item, and the best time of year to buy.

Buy in Bulk

You will save yourself a ton of money if you buy in bulk.

When meat is on sale for a decent price, don’t be afraid to buy many packages. You can do a cook-everything-at-once day, or freeze everything you don’t use.

You can also check your store or market and find out when they mark down the meat. Get it a day or two before it’s due to come off the shelves, and you’ll save boatloads of cash – sometimes up to 75 percent off! Just make sure you cook or freeze the meat the day you buy it.

Turn Large Parts into Smaller Parts

A lot of the money you spend on groceries goes to pay someone’s wage to break down large parts into smaller parts. You’ll save a huge amount of money if you do this yourself, and you’ll make the most of everything you have.

First off, buy whole poultry. Chickens, turkeys, ducks – whatever it is you buy cuts of, you can buy whole for a lot less per pound than the premium cuts. A whole chicken will yield white and dark meat, shredded chicken, chicken stock, and cooking fat!

This principle applies outside meat, too. Get coconut flakes or whole raw almonds to make nut butters, milks, and flours!

Buy from the Farmer

When you cut out the middleman – the grocery store – you’ll have a whole lot more money for food.

You can buy all of your staples from a farmer: meat, eggs, produce and even nuts.

Try buying in bulk at the farmer’s market whenever possible — it’s not unheard of to spend only a few dollars a pound for pasture-raised beef. Some health food stores charge upwards of 10 dollars a pound for the same cuts! 

If you’re lucky enough to snag a partial cow purchase, you’ll get fat to make tallow, bones to make broth, ground beef, steaks, ribs, and various cuts of beef as well as whatever organ meats were in your portion of the cow.

Buy Online

Hard to find good groceries deals nearby? You can often find really good deals online. Check out Subscribe & Save on Amazon for a great way to save yourself money on your favorite products.

Buy in Season

When produce is in season, it’s plentiful and it’s often very inexpensive. If you have a chest freezer, buy as much as you can and freeze it so that you have it to eat year-round. Otherwise, avoid produce when it’s out of season – it won’t taste as good, and you’ll pay a premium price for it.

Buy Cheaper Cuts (ground and bone-in)

Don’t turn your nose up at the more inexpensive cuts like ground meats or cuts with the bone in. You can make a variety of different dishes with ground meats (chili, shepherd’s pie and zucchini noodle “lasagna,” to name a few) and bone-in meats often taste better.

When you buy meat with the bone-in, save the bones! Toss them into a large freezer bag and when the bag is full, make your own bone broth!

Make One Purchase Last Several Meals

One large chicken can feed a family of four quite comfortably for four or even five meals: the initial meal where everyone gets a piece of their favorite cut, a few meals made of leftover shredded meat (think soup, curry, or chili), and then at least one meal using the chicken stock made from the bones. Make every bit count!

Grow Your Own

Even if you don’t have a yard, you can grow some of your own herbs or produce. Make use of a patio or outdoor space, or try growing indoor herbs.

If you have the space, you can raise chickens for eggs or even meat. Nothing beats a fresh, organic egg from your own backyard!

Keep It Simple

Cut out the fancy ingredients and use spices and herbs to change the flavor of a few basic meals. You can make a huge batch of turkey or chicken with seasonings to make it Indian, Mexican or Asian-inspired. Throw in a different vegetable with every meal and you won’t be complaining of boredom anytime soon!

Eat Less

This may sound strange, but you’ll find once you’re eating whole foods, you will actually eat less. When you cut out grains and processed sugar, you won’t crave those items, and you’ll snack a lot less.

Another way to eat less is to take up intermittent fasting. There are a couple of good authorities on the subject. You can either fast for 24 hours once a week or so, or just extend your daily fast to last from when you go to bed until around noon. You’ll cut out a whole meal – how much will that save you in a month?

Plan Ahead

You’ll save a lot of time, energy, and money if you plan your entire week (or two weeks, or a month) out in advance. Write down what you’ll have to eat each day for meals and for snacks, if applicable, then do your trip to the store or market. This way, you’ll buy only what you need, won’t forget items you’ll require, and won’t have any wasted food.

Make Your Own Luxury Items

Can’t live without your luxury items? Try making them at home!

Coconut milk ice cream, almond butter, chocolate bars, beef jerky, and dried fruit or trail mix are just a few of the things that are quite simple to make, especially if you have an ice cream machine, a food dehydrator, and a food processor.

Ferment, Freeze, Dry, and Can Foods

If you preserve or otherwise store your foods, you can eat delicious foods year-round, even when they’re out of season. Try fermenting to create your own sauerkraut, kimchi, pickles, homemade ketchup, and kombucha.

You can freeze almost all produce (some types require blanching first). If you have a dehydrator – or even an oven – you can dry meats, fruits, vegetables, herbs, and more. Jerky is a lot less expensive when you make it yourself!

Finally, you may can any acidic foods in a water bath in glass jars. For non-acidic foods or ones with meat, you’ll have to get a pressure canner.

Shop from the Safe 15 List

If you can’t afford to buy all organic produce, then buy as much as you can off the “Clean 15” list: asparagus, avocados, cabbage, cantaloupe, sweet corn, eggplant, grapefruit, kiwi, mangos, mushrooms, onions, papayas, pineapples, frozen sweet peas, and sweet potatoes.

The “Dirty Dozen” list is 12 items you should avoid unless you can buy organic: apples, celery, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, grapes, hot peppers, imported nectarines, peaches, potatoes, spinach, strawberries, and sweet bell peppers.

Quick Tips

  • Shop with a calculator.
  • Use coupons when you can, and if the store offers price compare, take advantage.
  • Watch the cash register when the cashier rings up your order.
  • Watch weekly specials.
  • Only buy what you need.
  • If you can’t afford grass-fed beef and must buy grain-fed, purchase the leaner cuts as fat holds the toxins more (and get your fats from elsewhere).
  • Buy cheaper, tough cuts of meat and use your crockpot to make them tender.
  • Organ meats tend to be very inexpensive, and are good for you – eat them once a week, particularly liver.
  • Buy sardines – they are cheap and full of protein and healthy fats.

Want some more tips to eating paleo on a budget? Watch these 3 videos below –

Paleo on a Budget | How to do Paleo Diet on a Budget | Dr. Jack Wolfson

What I Eat in a Day Paleo on a Budget

4 Budget-Friendly Paleo Recipes

Written PaleoHacks Team

Author Bio:

PaleoHacks is an online paleo diet community that promotes a healthy lifestyles through primal methods. PaleoHacks started as a way for people share recipes, ideas and general opinions about the Paleolithic lifestyle. Now, whether it be the paleo diet, physical fitness or overall wellness, PaleoHacks has evolved into an online resource for healthy living. check us out on Facebook.

A lot of people have gotten results from the Keto diet, and enjoyed the foods that it has to offer. However, many of the people who are following this diet have a hard time finding the recipes that they need, especially ones that are quick and easy to complete.

Fortunately, Kelsey Ale, noticed this problem, and decided to do something about it. She’s found that making recipes in a slow cooker gives you meals which are not only delicious, but also take very little time to make. Mostly you just put a few simple ingredients in the slow cooker, and let it do the rest.

To find out more, click on – Keto Slow Cooker Cookbook

Posted on

Hidden Dangers of Emulsifiers and Thickeners to Gut and Brain


Click HERE to Discover these 80 Keto-Friendly and Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes

Are Emulsifiers and Thickeners in Your Food Sabotaging Your Gut?

Check the label – sneaky emulsifiers and thickeners may be causing you achy gut problems.

While you might notice “natural” additives called thickeners and emulsifiers in your organic staples and not think much of it, new studies reveal the danger they pose to your gut health.

Here’s why these additives are more dangerous than they appear – and how to identify them in the foods you buy.

What Are Thickeners and Emulsifiers?

Thickeners and emulsifiers stabilize and thicken foods. They can be synthetic or natural, and may be added to store-bought products like salad dressing to help keep the mixture well combined.

So, what’s the problem with these additives? While it’s true that almost all thickeners and emulsifiers are “Generally Regarded As Safe” (GRAS) by the FDA, this simply means that they don’t pose a serious risk.

However, this doesn’t mean that they don’t come without side effects. And one of those extremely important but often overlooked side effects is their effect on gut health and digestion.

Common Thickeners and Emulsifiers

You’ve probably come across several of the most common thickeners and emulsifiers in your favorite packaged foods, such as nut milk, non-dairy yogurts, salad dressings, and more. Here’s a breakdown of what they are, how they affect your digestion, and reasons you may want to avoid them.

1. Cellulose Gum

Cellulose gum, or carboxymethylcellulose, is a thickening agent that comes from the cell walls of many types of plants. It is commonly used to thicken low-fat foods, since it can add a rich, creamy texture without adding fat.

While cellulose gum is generally recognized as safe, many researchers are now questioning whether it may be responsible for intestinal inflammation. This is due to the uptick in cases of inflammatory gut conditions like IBS with the increasing prevalence of cellulose gum in foods.

Animal studies do indeed show that cellulose gum causes inflammation and obesity, even at low doses. Cellulose gum can also alter the gut bacteria and erode the protective mucus lining of the intestines, causing irritation.

2. Polysorbate 80

Polysorbate 80 is a synthetic emulsifier that is added to foods and cosmetics to help bind ingredients together to increase smoothness. Take ice cream, for example: Polysorbate 80 might be added to maintain its rich, creamy texture while it’s on the shelf.

This emulsifier is another additive considered “safe” by the FDA, but studies show it creates an imbalance in your digestive system.

Studies in mice show polysorbate 80 creates intestinal inflammation and an immune response that typically happens in patients with colitis, meaning it could create the conditions necessary in your gut to develop this bowel disorder. It was also found that polysorbate 80 shortened the colons of mice and disrupted the protective mucus layer lining their guts.

3. Carrageenan

Carrageenan is similar to cellulose gum. It is derived from red seaweed and can be found in everyday foods like milks, yogurt, and condiments. It has quite a controversial reputation due to conflicting studies showing that it’s safe versus others that show it can cause inflammation and even interferes with the hormone insulin.

When it comes to gut health, studies show that carrageenan can create inflammation in your gut, and also creates some of the same symptoms as those found in inflammatory bowel disease.

4. Xanthan Gum

Xanthan gum can often be found in gluten-free baked goods thanks to its ability to create a doughy texture. It is produced through bacterial fermentation with a strain of bacteria and added sugars, then dried, powdered, and added to food.

While xanthan gum is considered “natural”, it still poses a negative effect on gut health. One study found that some infants who were fed formula thickened with xanthan gum developed a fatal intestinal disease.

With that being said, it’s important to note that infants’ digestive tracts are extremely sensitive, which was likely a huge factor in their reaction to xanthan gum. However, caution is warranted with xanthan gum, especially when it comes to little ones.

Thickeners and Emulsifiers and the Gut-Brain Link

In addition to affecting your gut health, studies show that the changes that happen in your gut when you consume these additives can also affect your brain. One study found emulsifiers added to the drinking water of mice resulted in gut inflammation, which then altered their mental state, resulting in changes in behavior.

How to Avoid Thickeners and Emulsifiers (Plus Natural Alternatives)?

If you’re experiencing any type of digestive discomfort and already removed gluten, dairy, and other irritating ingredients from your diet, you may want to take a closer look at the thickeners and emulsifiers in the foods you are eating.

Keep in mind that these can be found in nut milks like almond and coconut milk (canned and boxed) as well as non-dairy yogurts, ice creams, chocolates, and other packaged foods and baked goods.

The easiest way to avoid artificial thickeners and emulsifiers is to read labels carefully, and when in doubt, whip up your own alternatives to common foods that contain additives.

Try making your own nut milk by adding almonds to a blender with water, blending on high, then straining through a cheesecloth or nut milk bag. You can also make your own chocolate at home to avoid stabilizers and added sugars.

Here’s another trick: thicken your own foods using arrowroot or tapioca starch.

Watch this video – Dangerous Food Additives You Need to Know About

The Bottom Line

If you’re trying to improve your gut health, stick to eating foods in their most natural state. Whenever you buy packaged foods, check the label to make sure it doesn’t contain any of the emulsifiers and thickeners mentioned above.

Written by Megan Patiry

Author Bio:

Megan is an inquisitive nutrition and wellness writer harboring an editorial love affair with the decadent and the nutritious. She is a dedicated researcher in all areas of ancestral health, a certified specialist in fitness nutrition, personal trainer, and professional almond milk latte addict.

A lot of people have gotten results from the Keto diet, and enjoyed the foods that it has to offer. However, many of the people who are following this diet have a hard time finding the recipes that they need, especially ones that are quick and easy to complete.

Fortunately, Kelsey Ale, noticed this problem, and decided to do something about it. She’s found that making recipes in a slow cooker gives you meals which are not only delicious, but also take very little time to make. Mostly you just put a few simple ingredients in the slow cooker, and let it do the rest.

To find out more, click on – Keto Slow Cooker Cookbook

Posted on

What Is Wrong with Eating Refined Grains in Your Diet?


Click HERE to Discover these 80 Keto-Friendly and Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes

People have been eating grains for around 10,000 years – ever since the Agricultural Revolution. Grains are a large part of the North American culture and in many places around the world; heck, even the USDA recommends people get numerous servings of grains a day in order to stay healthy. So what’s wrong with grains?

The glaring problem with grains is that our bodies aren’t adapted to eating them. For hundreds of thousands (or more) years, our ancestors hunted and gathered their foods. They didn’t grow crops of wheat, rice, barley, oats, or any other grains; they picked berries, other wild fruit and vegetables, and ate meat that they caught and killed.

In fact, no mammals are suited to eat grains. When we do eat them, our bodies can revolt, leading to celiac disease, gluten intolerances, and autoimmune diseases, among others.

Vitamin and Mineral Deficiencies of Grains

The tricky part is that the more cereal grains people eat, the fewer fruits, meat, and vegetables they eat, which further contribute to the nutritional deficiencies. Grains themselves have very low levels of vitamins and minerals, and no B12. There is simply no way to get all the necessary nutrients whilst subsiding on an all-grain or grain-and-vegetable diet.

Vitamin B12, as well as several other micronutrients, is found only in animal products. Cultures that eat primarily grains will be deficient in B12, among other nutrients. Humans did not evolve to be primarily plant eaters.

Anti-Nutrients in Grains

Anti-nutrients are a plant’s defense system against predators. These systems help the plant guarantee the plant’s ability to propagate and protect the plant against being completely devoured. Seeds in general are not digestible, so that they are excreted whole and go on to propagate.

Some animals are better adapted to these anti-nutrients than others. Birds, some insects, and rodents are all designed to deal physiologically with these, but humans cannot.

Phytic Acid

Phytic acid, or phytate, is in the bran and outer coating of all seeds (grain included) and nuts. It binds with minerals like calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, and zinc, in your body and prevents their proper absorption.

Cultures that eat high amounts of grains have lower bone mineral concentrations and tend to suffer more from these types of pathologies.

Lectins

Lectins are proteins found in plants, meant to protect the plants against insect and bird predators. They are anti-nutrients and work to cause digestive upset in the animal or insect that eats the plant.

Lectins can adversely affect gut flora, cause leptin resistance, interfere with absorptive and digestive activities, and wreak some major havoc on your small intestine and immune system. They can cause leaky gut syndrome, which can then lead to autoimmune issues.

Gluten

Ah, gluten. This protein is even worse than lectin and phytic acid. It’s found in barley, rye, and wheat. Gluten can destroy the microvilli in the small intestine, which results in leaky gut syndrome. This, as mentioned, leads to digestive problems, allergies, and autoimmune diseases. About 2% of Americans have Celiac disease.

Approximately two percent of Americans have Celiac disease and another 29% of asymptomatic people test positive for anti-gliadin IgA in their blood.

A further large chunk of the population suffers from what is called gluten intolerance, which can cause symptoms like headaches, joint pain, skin problems, seizure disorders, and mental disorders, among others.

Essential Fatty Acids Deficiencies of Grains

A diet with healthy amounts of omega-3 fatty acids reduces many symptoms of autoimmune diseases, can decrease thrombotic tendencies, and reduces inflammation. You can get omega-3s in meat and oily fish.

Grains, on the other hand, are low in fats in general and omega-3s in particular. They tend to be higher in omega-6, which further causes an imbalance.

Carbohydrates

Increased grain consumption leads to obesity, chronic disease, and infertility. One of the major reasons is the lifestyle of the people eating high amounts of grains. With grains comes high levels of carbohydrates; much too high for the average sedentary person.

Any carbohydrate that a person eats that does not get burned as energy gets stored as fat. Throw in the other hormones that get released along with high carb diets (insulin, adrenaline, and cortisol, to name a few), and a high-carb, high-grain diet is a problem waiting to happen.

Too Much Fiber

Okay, you were probably raised being told that fiber is good for you – and the more the better, right? Wrong. High-fiber foods can injure the gastrointestinal tract, which then leads to an increase in the production of mucus. Many IBS sufferers complain about excess mucus; so perhaps that’s a sign right there.

If you want more information on fiber and how it can be bad, read Fiber Menace.

Protein Loss in High-Grain Diets

People who eat high amounts of cereal grains can suffer from inadequate growth due to a reduction in intake of amino acids and protein (back to the point where the more grains you eat; the less meat you eat). Protein in grains sits at around 12 percent, while the protein in lean beef is about 22 percent.

What This Means

So, with all of the things that are wrong with grains, why do we eat them? There’s no reason to eat grains; a person can survive quite well without them, and one would imagine, be healthier for it.

So why does the U.S. (and the Canadian government, for that matter) recommend 6—11 servings of grains a day? This is a whole other topic, one that has to do with subsidies and, some might say, a conspiracy to keep citizens sick.

Watch this video – Whole vs. Refined Grains: Why Does It Matter

Written by PaleoHacks Team

Author Bio:

PaleoHacks is an online paleo diet community that promotes a healthy lifestyle through primal methods. PaleoHacks started as a way for people share recipes, ideas and general opinions about the Paleolithic lifestyle. Now, whether it be the paleo diet, physical fitness or overall wellness, PaleoHacks has evolved into an online resource for healthy living. check us out on Facebook.

A lot of people have gotten results from the Keto diet, and enjoyed the foods that it has to offer. However, many of the people who are following this diet have a hard time finding the recipes that they need, especially ones that are quick and easy to complete.

Fortunately, Kelsey Ale, noticed this problem, and decided to do something about it. She’s found that making recipes in a slow cooker gives you meals which are not only delicious, but also take very little time to make. Mostly you just put a few simple ingredients in the slow cooker, and let it do the rest.

To find out more, click on – Keto Slow Cooker Cookbook

Posted on

7 Ways to Know If Your Meat Is Paleo


Click HERE to Discover these 80 Keto-Friendly and Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes

7 Crucial Ways to Tell If Your Meat is Paleo or Not

The first time I ate a free-ranging chicken of a heritage breed, not a caged, overfed white roaster, I knew immediately that the meat is Paleo.

While butchering it, I noticed that even its skeleton was noticeably different. Built to run, this bird was almost all dark meat, with long legs and thin breasts. And the flavor! I had not eaten a chicken that good since childhood. This meat is Paleo for sure!

I’ve had similar epiphanies eating pork and beef that lived the good life before going to slaughter. Experience has taught me that happy animals make for happy meat.

Grazing herd animals, chickens with full run of the yard, pigs that forage for acorns, wild birds and fish and meat, are more flavorful, even more evocative and possibly even more nutritious.

These days, it seems as though food is just a bar of compressed gruel for powering through the next few hours. Paleo is a reaction against this over-industrialization of our lives.

Studying our ancient ancestors has taught us that meat was our first staple food, and continues to be the most important part of our healthy diets. But as important as meat is to the Paleo diet, many newcomers to the Paleo lifestyle are doing it wrong.

Simply replacing commercial white bread with commercial pork chops isn’t going to make your diet Paleo. More importantly, it is the meat itself that has to change.

Want to know if your meat is Paleo? Here are seven ways to know for sure that is definitely is NOT.

1. Your Grazing Animals Don’t Eat Grass

The first place to make this switch is in your red meat choices. Large grazing animals should be the foundation of your diet, and they should eat mainly grass.

We’ve been eating various kinds of domestic cattle for about 9,000 years. In all that time, we could rarely afford to feed them anything but pasturage. Only in the past hundred years have we intensively fed grain to cattle, and they’re not designed to eat it any more than you are.

Feedlot cattle suffer painful bloating and poor health from their filthy and cramped living conditions as well as their inhumane diet. Cattle cannot digest grain any better than we can. Choose grass-fed beef whenever possible!

The solution: Choose grass-fed beef. When you can, choose beef from grass-fed heritage breeds and bison to more closely emulate the profile of ancient cattle.

2. Your Meat Isn’t Wild

Animals that fend for themselves have different nutritional profiles from those raised domestically. How much that differs can vary depending on how the animals are raised: the more wild-like the conditions, as well as the cultivar or species, the more wild-like the meat. Modern domestic cattle simply did not exist in the Paleolithic; neither did modern broiler hens.

The solution: Eat more meat from undomesticated species, and when you do eat domesticated meat, choose those raised in the most wild conditions.

3. Your Fish is Toxic or Endangered

Seafood is highly varied, nutritious, and can still often be found for sale in its wild forms. However, a great deal of popular seafood, from shrimp to tilapia, is farmed, and like industrially farmed meat, seafood farmed on large scales doesn’t eat a native diet.

However, because of the nature of the toxins we have deposited in the oceans, mainly from burning coal, many species of wild seafood are considered dangerous to eat, while others have suffered so much depletion from overfishing that they are endangered.

The solution: Expand your knowledge of the species you eat from land based to aquatic livestock. Know where and how your favorites are typically produced, if they are farmed, whether they contain high levels of mercury or other toxins or are endangered, and whether alternatives exist.

Avoid unsustainably harvested seafood. Expand your diet to include more species that are sustainably harvested or farmed there are biodynamic and small aquatic farming operations.

4. Your Poultry Doesn’t Eat Bugs

Domestic chickens on small farms are fed supplemental grain as well as vegetables and even scraps of meat. Free ranging chickens spend their days foraging for insects to eat. They’re omnivores.

Just as humans don’t thrive on an all-vegetable diet, neither do chickens. Chickens should be able to spread wings, scratch the dirt, and act like birds. Avoid poultry from industrial farms!

One result of industrial farming is that poultry are raised indoors, in barns, eat exclusively grains, and never get to engage in normal chicken behaviors: scratching in the dirt, foraging for bugs, preening themselves and taking dust baths, and spreading their wings, literally and figuratively. 

Birds bred for the outdoors, and which live healthy lives foraging, are more like the kinds of birds we’ve eaten for centuries than the birds most commonly sold in supermarkets and restaurants today.

The solution: Eat less poultry. It’s not a staple food because small animals are not fatty enough to sustain humans. When you do eat poultry, choose free-ranging chickens.

You might need to find a farmer nearby and check out the operation to be sure. The same goes for your eggs: choose eggs from free-ranging hens for the most rich, delicious, and nutritious yolks.

5. You Don’t Eat the Whole Animal

We humans didn’t get to where we are today by being wasteful. When the hunt was successful, we ate not just tenderloin, but heart, kidneys, and intestine, and we made a habit of it. In each human culture, there are recipes and traditions for the preparations of each part of the animals eaten, from roasts to bone stock.

The proportions of liver, muscle, and fat that we eat when we eat from the supermarket case are dramatically different from when we would kill and prepare one animal and eat all of it, sooner or later. Eat the whole animal: heart, kidneys and intestine. No part should go to waste.

If we believe that the differences between how we lived as hunter gatherers and how we live now accounts for the poor health of most Westerners, then this is a significant difference. Man does not live by chops alone.

The solution: Buy whole animals when this is reasonable to do so. If you can, get an extra deep freezer so you can buy and store whole or half beeves, pigs, and seasonally available seafood and poultry. Seek out new ways to enjoy offal or other cuts with which you’re less familiar.

The diet we ate before we became agriculturalists was wilder, wider, and more flavorful. Purchasing whole, organic animals is a surefire way to make sure your meat is Paleo. Enjoy your food!

6. You Choose Lean Meats

It’s not just the types of animals you eat and how they were raised, but in what proportions we eat the parts. Nowadays, we choose tenderloin, not chuck; loin, not shoulder; breast not thigh; tilapia, not eel.

Our previous programming for a low fat diet, familiarity with the low-fat cuts we grew up eating, and their current ubiquity in the modern industrial foodscape mean we are choosing lean cuts of meat, and missing out on the nutrition, not to mention flavor and satisfaction, of eating animal fat.

The solution: Don’t be afraid to try fattier cuts of meat. Remember, well-marbled, free-range meat is Paleo!

7. You Eat the Meat Alone

In every culture, people eat together. They share food and mealtimes fulfill important social functions: to see and be seen, to belong, to share and ensure that everyone receives what they need. We take cues from watching one another on how slowly to chew, how much to choose, and which foods to prize.

The solution: Arrange to eat with co-workers at midday instead of at your desk. Offer to share your food with others. Face your family members over the dining room table instead of all orienting toward a screen.

Talk about the food you’re eating: what it reminds you of, how it makes you feel, food combinations you enjoy. When you do have to eat alone, do it meditatively, with appreciation and attention. Eating is a time to enjoy being alive. Savor it!

Watch this video –Paleo Diet for Beginners // Food List & Rules

Written by Justin Cascio

Author Bio:

Justin Cascio is a food and lifestyle writer. A founding editor of Trans-Health.com, he is currently senior editor at The Good Men Project. You can follow him on Twitter @likethewatch.

A lot of people have gotten results from the Keto diet, and enjoyed the foods that it has to offer. However, many of the people who are following this diet have a hard time finding the recipes that they need, especially ones that are quick and easy to complete.

Fortunately, Kelsey Ale, noticed this problem, and decided to do something about it. She’s found that making recipes in a slow cooker gives you meals which are not only delicious, but also take very little time to make. Mostly you just put a few simple ingredients in the slow cooker, and let it do the rest.

To find out more, click on – Keto Slow Cooker Cookbook

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